Motion-picture machine



J. DARBY.

MOTION PICTURE MACHINE.

APPLICATION min MAR. le. 191s.

Patented July 20, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

fJ. DARBY. MonoN PICTURE MACHINE. Y APPLICATION FILED MAR. I6. 1916.

Patented July 20, 1920,

n w Y ki ID .A Im@ UNITED sTATi-:s z im-TENT'oi-i-icia` Jo'HN Damm, or sUMMrr, NEW JERSEY, AssrGNoa 'ro FRANCIS E. GRIFFIN, 0E NEW I Yonx, N. Y.

MOTION-PICTURE MACHINE.

Specication ot Letters Patent.

Patented J ulyl 20, 1920.

Application filed March 16, 1916. Serial No. 84,510. 4

- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J oiiN' DARBY, a citizen of the United States, nd`a resident ofSummit, in the county of nion and StateofNew Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulconstructions, arrangements, combinations and4 improvements herein shown and de- I scribed.

. but showin The accompanyingdrawings', referred to herein and formin a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment o the invention, and taken illustrate the principles thereof.

Of the drawings: I 'Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine in connection with the description serve to constructed in accordance with the principles g of the invention, and showing the mechanism in the position in which a film strip is threaded through the machine, and the reserve loo s are established;

. Fig. 2 1sa view corresponding to Fig. 1, the parts `in theposition in which the is being run during the projection of the pictures;

Fig. 3 is an elevation looking at Figs. 1 and 2 from the left, with the film strip omitted;

l enlarged scale, and with parts in section of the slidable loo -establishing devices shown iiithel upper le hand'part--of Figsl: and v2;

and also and .f

Fig. 5is a fragmentary detail-on an enlarged scale, with parts in section and rwith arts broken awa ,"of`the bottom slidable Rop-establishing devices shown in-the lower parts of Figs. 1 and2. v

The invention comprisessliding or reciprocable means for establishing a reserve loop of ythe lm `strip of requisite or predetermined length between the continuously 1 lfeeding A 1 vices roper, the sliding Fig. 4,-is a fragmentary elevation, on an runnin I reel which carries the supply roll vof 'the lm stri and the intermittently feeding portion o the film strip lwhich is cooperatingl with the projection apparatus proper toproject the pictures. Inaccord: ance with one feature of the invention, there are provided reciprocable or slidable devices which so establish or determine the reserve loop in the Afilm `strip, and also coperate with and constitute a part of the film strip machine. V

-The preferred embodiment ofthe linvention is illustrated, by way of example, in the Iaccompanying drawings wherein the machine is Imounted upon a suitable frame, said frame comprisinga vertical portion 1 havin the transverse yV projecting portion 2 at t e rear, this portion carrying certain parts of the projecting apparatus proper, and (liaving a base 3 upon which the machine stan s.

devices during the operation of the A tube 4 supported by and extending forwardly from'the frame portion 2, carries' the projecting lenses in a suitable manner. At

its rear end, and mounted on frame portion 2 i arethe devices for holding or clamping the film strip, which devices may be the lsaine as those show'n in myPatent No. 1,280,676. At the'` forward end of the tube 4 is arotar shutter 5, carrieduponshaft 6, which sha is rotated throu h suitable connections 'in proper time relation with the film strip feeding devices. l l f n the embodied form of the invention, the film strip is supplied from a vcontinuously. unwound roll and is rewound upon anotherlco'ntinuously winding roll, and between these rolls. it is given a step by step or intermittent feed past the projecti deor reciprocab e reserve oop-establishing 'evice actin'g also to establish and preserve a reserve loopofjust the proper le means and the intermittent feeding means between the intermittent feeding means and the rewinding means. As 'embodied, lm strip is in a roll on reel 7,v

-maintained upon its bearing or support 8 in a suitable manner, as b `a latch 10, which .latch permits the reel to e slipped on, and

is ,than turned t0 .held .the reel in position, as.

h between the supplying les y shown in Fig. 3. A spring` 11 may act against the other side of the reel 7 to hold it against the latch 10 and to serve as a gentle friction brake or drag. The support or shaft 8 is fixed to, or formed with, an upright support 12 carried upon 'the machine frame and which may be vertically adjustable if desired.

Suitable mechanism is provided for continuously unwinding the film strip m from the reel 7, the embodied form thereof comprising a continuously driven sprocket roller 13, carried upon a shaft 15. The shaft 15 has a pinion 16, meshing with a gear wheel 17. The gear wheel 17 is fixed on a shaft 18, the shaft 18 having a driving crank 19. The sprocket teeth upon roller 13 engage with the sprocket holes in the edges of the film to feed the film strip along. Coperating with the sprocket roll 13 is' one or more spring-pressed rollers 20, carried upon arms 21, which arms are mounted upon a shaft 22. The hub of arm 21 is provided with a cam acted upon by a spring 23 to keep the roller 20 in engagement `with the sprocket roll 13 during the feeding of the film, vto keep the film strip on the sprocket roller teeth, the roller 20 being grooved circumferentially for this purpose.

The slidable or reciprocable reserve loopestablishing means also, in accordance with one feature of the invention, is united and coperates with certain of the film feeding and directing devicesto maintain or preserve the reserve loop during the running of 4the film strip. As embodied, in the frame portion 2 of the machine, a vertically disposed apertureisprovided, within which a rod 30 is lon itudinally reciprocable, (Figs. 1,2 and 4). arried upon the upper end of rod.30 is a block 31, said block carrying a horizontally disposed shaft 32 provided with a roller 33. The rodv 30 is kept froml rotation in its support inthe machine frame by suitable means, such as a slot 34 cut longitudinally in the rod 30. Into the slot 34 projects a pin 35 formed at-the inner end of a screw 36, which screw is threaded intq the support'2. The rod 30 thus may move longitudinally while it is held against rotational movement'. A spring 27 conveniently coiled about the rod 30 is in compression between the under side of the extended portion of the frame 2 and a washer' 28 held on the lower end of rod 30 by a pin 29. Rod 30 is thus held retracted, as shown in E ig. 4, with roller 33 in position to guide t e film strip while it is running.

Means are provided for limitingor determining the upward and downward movement of rod 30, and of the roller 33, and also for determining the extent of movement of the roller 33, thereby controlling'the len th or extent of the reserve loop establishe in the film strip. In the 'embodied form 0f such means, a spring-pressed pin 38 operates in an aperture 39 inthe upper enlarged part of the frame 2, the pin 38 being acted upon by spring 40, the pressure of spring 40 being regulated by a screw 41. Formed in the rod 30 is a notch or recess 42 into which the pin 38 is projected by the spring pressure to limit the upward travel of the rod 30. Beneath the block 31 there is provided a screw or screws 43 threaded into the upper surface of the frame piece 2. The screw 43 may be turned up or down to determine the lowest point of travel of the block 31 and roller 33. Thusthe extent of travel of the roller 33 and of the reserve loop or-film are regulated and determined, and the roller 33 is movable between the position shown in Fig. 1 and that shown in Figs. 2 and 4, in its upper position forming the reserve loop in the strip preparatory to running it through the machine, and in the lower position guiding the strip while it is being run and projecte It will be understood that when the film is being threaded through the machine preparatory to starting it into operation, roller 20 and roller 33 are in the position shown in Fig. 1, and after the film strip is threaded through the machine, these rollers are moved to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4. When in the latter position, the roller 33 coperates with the curved plate 44, to guide the .film in the rear of the lens carried in tube 4. The end of shaft 32 extends outwardly, to the right in Fig. 3, to serve as a hold for the hand in moving the roller 33 up or down. The mechanism for establishing the film loop is entirely at the rear, and there is no construction at either side to interfere with the hands of the operator, and the mechanism is firmly mounted upon the machine frame and in a-position directly above its supporting and guiding means.

My suitable mechanism, such ,for instance as V is shown and described inmy Patent No. 1,280,676 already referred to is shown in part inthe drawings herewith. Coperating with the sprocket wheel 50 is a roller or disk 51'carried upon` an arm 52 pivotally 125 mounted on 4Vshouldered screw 49 which is mounted in a bracket 53. The arm 52 has angularly disposed surfaces 54 lcoacting with a fiat spring 55, to hold the arm 52 and roller f51 in either 'the open or closed posi- 180 tion, that is theposition in which the. film strip is threaded through (Fig. 1) or the.

comprised a longitudinally slidable rod 6l) mounted in brackets or bearings 61 and 62 carried upon the frame plate 1. Said rod 60 is kept from rotational movement by suitable means, the illustrated embodiment comprising a slot 63 cut longitudinally in the pin l60, into which slot projects a pin 64 formed at the inner end of a screw 65, which screw is threaded into the bracket 6 2.

Mounted upon the rod 60 and secured thereto in a suitable manner, as by a pin 66, is a block 67. Mounted upon block 67y is a shaft j 68 carrying a roller 69. Roller 69 when in depressed position 'acts to keep the film strip on the sprocket teeth of roller 80, the roller 69 being circumferentially grooved for this purpose. The upward movement of rod 60 and of roller 69, referring to Fig. 5, is limited by suitable means such as a spring detent 70 mounted in an aperture in the bracket 61, and spring-pressed by spring 71, `a screw 72 serving to regulate the pressure of the spring 71. Anotch or depression 7 3 in the rod 60 coperates with the spring detent 70. The downward movement of the rod 60 and the roller 69 is nicely and accurately regulated by a screw74 threaded into thebase 3 of the machine frame, this mechanism also -serving to regulate the pressure between roller 69 and strip feeding roller 80.

' A spring 75 is coiled about rod 60 and is in compression between bracket 61 andl arm 67 and `presses roller 69 to its lower limit. The end of shaft 68 may be extended outwardly, as shown at the right hand end in Fig. 3, to serve as a handle to raise or lower roller 69.

The film strip isr threaded about the |`intermittently moving'sprocket roller 50, thence over lthe roller '69- (when in the .-position shown in Fig. l) and from there the strip is passed. about the continuously rotating sprocket roller 80. The film strip thence passes over the guiding and supporting roller 81 and is Wound upon the reel 82, which is carried upon shaft 83. When roller '69 is moved from the position of Fig. 1 to the position` of Fig. 2,v the reserve loop is established .and is maintained between the continuously unwinding .eel and the intermittent feed past the lens ofthe film strip. j j

' Reel 82 is driven in a suitable manner, as-by abelt 8 4. 4The .belt 84 runs over apulley`86`upon'- the shaft 85 of sprocket which need not be described herein in detail.

` ment of said rod in both directions.

duringl the `feed ro1ler80 andover a pulleyl 87 on shaft .83.

ing the rate of winding of the film strip irrespective ofthe amount of'film upon the reel, in a well-known manner.

The words continuously or constantly running as applied to certain rollers and mechanisms will be understood as being used to differentiate from the intermittently o erating mechanism for moving the centra portion of the film strip between the successive projections of the series of pictures.

Suitable driving connection for all the mechanism will be provided, a portion of which is shown at the left in Fig. 3, and

8`5' It will be understood that departures may be made from the precise constructions shown and described within the scope of the appended claims, without .departing from the principles of the invention, and without sac- 90 j rificing its main functions and advanta es.

What I claim as m invention and to secure by Letters atent isf- 1. A motion picture machine including in combination picture projecting means, means for guiding the film past the projecting means, film feeding means including devices for intermittently feeding the film, and means for forming a eserve film loop at one side of the projecting ,means and comprising a longitudinally slidable rod and a filmengaging roller mounted thereon, said roller in one positionof said rod forming part of the film feeding means.

2. A motion picture'machine including in combination picturev projecting means, film feedingrmeans including devices for guiding the film past the projecting means, means for intermittently feeding the film, and means manually operable for forming' a reserve film loop atl one side ofthe projecting means and comprising a longitudinally slidable rod and a film engaging roller mounted thereon, and means for limiting the moveesire 3. A moving picture machine includin 1 in combination two film feeding sproc ets spaced apart from each other, a film engaging roller and a rod on which said roller is mounted, said rod ybeing manually longi'- 120 tudinally slidable to establish and measure a reserve loop of j film between the -two s rockets, while the film is being threaded tlirough the machine. u l

4. In a motion picture machine, a film engaging member and a carrier therefor mounted tov move to and fro longitudlnallyl relatively to the film path and adapted to be controlled so asto be moved positlvely lnto either one of two positions, said member 130 in one of its positions engaging the film as a presser roller and in the other position adapted toA have the film passed about it thereby to form a loop in the film.

5. In a motion picture machine a reserve loop establishing device including a solely manually longitudinally 'slidable rod, a film engaging roller mounted on said rod, and means for regulating the amount of travel of said rod and roller, and a spring impelling said rod in one direction.

6. In a motion picture machine a reserve loop establishing device including a solely manually longitudinally slidable rod, a lm engaging roller mounted on said rod, and means for regulating the amount of travel of said rod and roller, a spring impelling said rod in one direction, and a detent for holding the rod against the action of the spring.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my naine to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN DARBY.

Witnesses:

G. M. HEALEY, .LoUrsA LoEHR. 

